Japan Prepares to Destroy North Korean Launch

[Boggy1 45]

Japan says it is deploying missile interceptors to destroy any parts of a North Korean rocket that might fall on its territory.

North Korea has said it will launch a satellite into orbit next month.

South Korea, Japan and the US say the launch is cover for a test of the Taepodong-2 ballistic missile.

The US said a launch would violate UN Security Council resolutions. Russia said North Korea should "abstain" from testing any missiles.

'Assure safety'

Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada issued the orders to mobilise Japan's missile defence shield after a meeting with Prime Minister Taro Aso and cabinet ministers.

"We will do our best to handle any flying object from North Korea in order to assure the Japanese people's safety and security," said Mr Hamada.

"A satellite or a missile - we are displeased with anything that is going to fly over our land, and such an action must be stopped."

It is the first time that constitutionally pacifist Japan has deployed the shield. The country's military is also expected to deploy warships off its coast.quote>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7967202.stm

Well, this will be just barrells of fun. North Korea has said it would regard any rocket intercept as an act of war. Not that North Korea can really go up against both the US and the Japanese forces; but still. Fun.

[belfastuniguy 18]

North Korea can huff and puff all they want. Japan can destroy the missile if they see fit and North Korea will be powerless to do anything about it. Would like to see them try and start a war.

[Yoman3 5]

The South Korean Military alone could knock North Korea's around like a professional boxer versus a toddler, Japan, US, & South Korea ain't much of a chance

No one wants war though, especially South Korea, because not only would the war hamstring the economy, but the reunification would strain it beyond belief. Was an article about it a few months ago in the Economist.

[DanWalker8 3]

go Japan!

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Yoman3

The South Korean Military alone could knock North Korea's around like a professional boxer versus a toddler, Japan, US, & South Korea ain't much of a chance quote>

South Korea has roughly 650,000 troops in its military. North Korea has 800,000 sitting along the DMZ, ready to steam roll into South Korea in a moment's notice. That doesn't even include an additional 300,000 troops, and a submarine fleet that makes even US commanders take pause.

North Korea has shown there are really only a couple of military scenarios it fears. First, the Pentagon wasn't bluffing when it said it had the explosive supplies and technology to kill all 800,000 North Korean troops along the DMZ in a 24 hour period. Second, that commanders would make good on their promise to reduce the North Korean homeland to an wasteland that, at best, looked like it something out of the Stone Age, and at worst, was no longer inhabitable.

[Duke87 1,070]

This may prove interesting.

[Yoman3 5]

Originally posted by: hym

Originally posted by: Yoman3

The South Korean Military alone could knock North Korea's around like a professional boxer versus a toddler, Japan, US, & South Korea ain't much of a chance quote>

South Korea has roughly 650,000 troops in its military. North Korea has 800,000 sitting along the DMZ, ready to steam roll into South Korea in a moment's notice. That doesn't even include an additional 300,000 troops, and a submarine fleet that makes even US commanders take pause.

North Korea has shown there are really only a couple of military scenarios it fears. First, the Pentagon wasn't bluffing when it said it had the explosive supplies and technology to kill all 800,000 North Korean troops along the DMZ in a 24 hour period. Second, that commanders would make good on their promise to reduce the North Korean homeland to an wasteland that, at best, looked like it something out of the Stone Age, and at worst, was no longer inhabitable.

quote>

Numbers are not everything. Especailly in this case. Every single piece of North Korea's military is outdated, not to say it isn't dangerous, but against the quality of South Korea's combined with its large numbers of regular and reserve troops mean that it is completly superior.

The large submarine fleet as well, is about the same size as the US fleet, not to mention the Japanese and RoK boats. This fleet is also composed of basically WWII Type XXI U-Boat technology.

All this is not to say that the North Korean army is not dangerous, but in a war v South Korea, let alone Japan and the US, it doesn't stand much of a chance without resorting to nuclear weapons, and if that stage is reached, we're all screwed.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

N Korea isn't really in a position to do anything. It has a serious problem keeping fuel in all those subs and machinery, and it just doesn't have the logistical wherewithal to support all of its troops, especially for an extended engagement. It can't even feed itself.

The US Pacific fleet would, simply put, turn Pyongyang into a parking lot. And if Japan were to be attacked, it could probably count on EU and/or NATO for support. Kim Jong talks smack, but the truth is, any hot conflict would end our NK problems for good.

NK's one possible ally, China, is more interested in keeping refugees out than helping its self-destructive neighbor. I really doubt they would go toe-to-toe with the rest of the world for the basket case next door.

[Explodingsims 3]

Hmmm....I can't see this ending well for N. Korea.

Would the U.S. go to war with them while we're in Iraq though....

I guess another World War would help the economy though!

[Mellowneos 0]

Okay, I have no knowledge about the way we put satellites into space. But does that NK rocket absolutely have to fly over Japan to get into orbit?

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Ahmedg492

Okay, I have no knowledge about the way we put satellites into space. But does that NK rocket absolutely have to fly over Japan to get into orbit?quote>

Depends on what the satellite is supposed to accomplish. For some applications, a launch directly over Japan would be the only realistic method.

[Ntq€310 1]

seeing as south Korea has from what I heard the 6th biggest military budget in the world, in a modern industrialized nation, and has many powerful friends and allies.. well I doubt North Korea can win unless China starts to support them.

Ahmedg492: I don't really know that, but it's just theres the bigger possibility that this isn't a satellite, but really a Missile that meant for warfare. Besides that you have to count launch patterns, weather conditions, and such. Which besides that there are international agreements that prohibit North Korea from launching any type of missile.

[confused04 14]

I predict....

Nothing... status quo unchanged.

[jon7985 3]

Numbers are not everything. Especailly in this case. Every single piece of North Korea's military is outdated, not to say it isn't dangerous, but against the quality of South Korea's combined with its large numbers of regular and reserve troops mean that it is completly superior.

quote>

That is one way of looking at it, however, as a USMC Airman, thier SAMs an AA pieces aren't much to laugh at. The United States Military relies heavily on Air power to get the job done, and all of us are used to steam rolling opponents that have very little if any Air defense. NK does have that Air Defense.

The Airborne kills that we've suffered in the GWOT have been by man portable Missles and rockets. It would be a completely different threat if we're facing radar guided artillery. The NK also have invested heavily in anti-ship missles.

I'm not saying we would lose! But the battlefield would be far different than what we're used to.No doubt the end result would be a massive parking lot where North Korea USED to be. Also Do you think its bad losing what 3k troops in 8 years of war? Think about the numbers we'd lose in the first day.

North Korea wouldn't be a pushover. Its a serious situation here and Kim Jong Mentally Ill might just be crazy enough to start something.

(If this sounds peace-freaky, let me assure you I support war against evil. It keeps me in business!!))

[Jezus53 18]

Originally posted by: confused04

I predict....

Nothing... status quo unchanged.quote>

Agreed. If we knock that thing out the sky NK won't do anything unless Russia comes out of no where and goes, "Yeah, you know those nukes we "got rid of?" jk, we're launching them all." Only scenario I can think. All joking aside, why can't they just have Japan or US or another nation with a space program do it? If it's such a harmless satellite, then let us do it for you. Why would you want to defy a treaty and possibly start a war over a meaningless some science satellite? Something isn't right about this.

[sneakeypete 16]

A offensive war would be devastating for any side waging it. While SK would probably be able to hold off a Invasion from the north, i really doubt their will to commit to a full invasion of it. A 50 year old gun kills just as well, if you don't know that its about to be shot at you.

[hamsterTK 93]

What I always ponder is the safety of Seoul which is just a couple dozen miles south of the DMZ.

I guess it would be nice if Japan really did have giant robot mechas. I mean it's 2009 already, we were supposed to have labors 10 years ago

[Haljackey 17,393]

Oh great, just what we need:

AFP

North Korea to attack 'major targets' if launch stopped

AFP - 1 hour, 38 minutes ago

SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea's military threatened Thursday to attack "major targets" in Japan if Tokyo tries to shoot down a satellite it intends to launch as soon as this weekend.

Read more here:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090402/world/nkorea_missile

[Jezus53 18]

Crap, I don't have my fallout shelter built yet! Oh well. North Korea has got to be stupid. I just don't understand! They are willing to go to war over a communications satellite. This is stupid. Maybe a war would put North Korea in it's place. Then again, the last time we went to Korea it didn't turn out too well.

Hold on, I gotta go get the mail...(walks to the door. opens mail box)...dang it, I got a draft notice. Well off to Korea everybody!

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[whiterabbit2015 0]

These are all very interesting comments, many with excellent points. The DPRK is definitely a force to be reckoned with, even today. Sure, some of their equipment is outdated, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. Just having a leader like Kim Jong Ill in power is enough to make the world worry, especially Japan, who has no standing army of its own and has been greatly opposed to war since the end of World War II. If someone that crazy is wielding the military power of a country, who know what could happen?

Has anyone looked to see what the DPRK paper is saying? Of course, everything is filtered, but generally what we read is probably what the people of the country read. I found an interesting excerpt from April 1, and let me tell you, just reading it once was enough for me to consider it a bad April Fool's joke. In the article, the DPRK says they are the "victim" and that the US and it's allies in South Korea are planning to destroy them, not to mention are starting a second arms race that will destroy the whole world. Here's an excerpt:

-When the situation reached such a pass, the U.S. has become more vociferous about the DPRK's non-existent "missile threat" and taken an option to step up its moves to establish MD [Missle Defense], justifying those moves and the escalation of its arms race.

As a matter of fact it is the DPRK that is exposed to constant missile threat. The U.S. is posing a missile threat to the DPRK and the latter is its victim-

Comments? Questions?

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

It's obvious, that our governments tell us different views, always blaming the other and reversing the others claims.

I am American, but I can assure you the public community does not always stand with what our government claims, or does.

[Jezus53 18]

Originally posted by: frndofyaweh

I am American, but I can assure you the public community does not always stand with what our government claims, or does.

quote>

You can not be any more correct. I do not agree with a lot of things we do. But that doesn't mean I'm going to hate my country. It's like having an annoying dad. You love him, but he just does stuff that get's you upset.

Barbarossa, you're probably right. North Korea will probably launch the "missile" and put up their "communications satellite and the US and Japan will do nothing about it but tell North Korea it's been a bad boy and well stop buying stuff from them. That'll show em!

[hym 358]

It seems that North Korea has gone through with the launch. What will be interesting now is what the reactions will ultimately be.

[Moshi 61]

No panic, no interception. 'Tis an ordinary day in Japan.

Aside from the overreacting media, that is

[Sim shady 12]

To be honest, there isn't much more the world can do to North Korea. It is already the most heavily sanctioned nation in the world. Short of an invasion and declaration of war, we have done almost all that we can. The economy in North Korea is crippled; they have no infrastructure, no money, nothing. Check out night satillite images of the Korean Peninsula to get a fair idea of what I am talking about.

The bottom line is, there will be a good deal of finger wagging and tongue lashing, but nothing of any substance actually done. i think Barbarossa is completely right in her assessment of this being nothing more than another footnote in history.

[Haljackey 17,393]

lol, they get away with it, just as usual.

Didn't something similar happen about 70 years ago when the world just let Nazi Germany "get away" with several things until something bad happened?

Honestly, we need to do something to stop the North Koreans or else they may attempt to do something similar.

How shall we stop them? Well the current sanctions don't seem to be working, but I'm not suggesting brute force. We need to find another way to solve this problem.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Originally posted by: Sim shady

...Barbarossa is completely right in her assessment... quote>

Gotta stick up for the B-man. He's a guy.

[Dark_Jedi06 13]

Originally posted by: haljackey

lol, they get away with it, just as usual.

Didn't something similar happen about 70 years ago when the world just let Nazi Germany "get away" with several things until something bad happened?

Honestly, we need to do something to stop the North Koreans or else they may attempt to do something similar.

How shall we stop them? Well the current sanctions don't seem to be working, but I'm not suggesting brute force. We need to find another way to solve this problem.quote>

It would seem we've all caught a case of the Neville's.

Except now, instead of fearing a militarized and powerful German state, we could be staring down the recieving end of a nuclear warhead. Higher stakes? Seems like it.

[tepodon 29]

YES! finally my sc4 name is being recognized, of course i did miss spell it, whatever American's cant pronounce Asian words the same way Asians cant speak english, lol (I have nothing but contempt for my own people).

But ya you cant touch appeasement with a 10 foot pole anymore, ever since Chamberlain, but it could still work. On the other hand did containment work during the Cold War? Or does violent intervention work? What works!?

I like to think foreign policy should be a case by case decision, so we shouldnt be haunted by the ghosts of appeasement when we deal with Kim Jung Il, and we should keep all options on the table as a viable means of softening tensions with the DPRK, or removing the Kim Dynasty.

However, a decision to remove the dictatorship and reunite the Korean peninsula at this particular time will basically result in the bankruptcy of the Korean state, and we should expect South Korea to have to pay for the reeducation and capitalization of the people of the North. Thats why Roh back just 3 yrs ago had advocated the Sun Shine Policy to try and raise living standards as much as possible in the DPRK so that when reunification does come it wont be such a massive blow to the RoK. But 8 yrs under the Bush administration, and now followed by the Lee Myung Bak administration in South Korea, we see two successive right wingers who want to isolate North Korea and if they can destroy it.

Only economically feasible option for the destruction of the Kim dictatorship in North Korea would have to involve the complete eradication of he people and the land effectively making South Korea into an island. lol